Tour de Farm NJ and the Sparta Farmers Market promote local growers

By Rose Sgarlato and joseph Picard
Sussex County — Labeled ‘a culinary journey like no other,’ the 4th Annual Tour de Farm will be on Sunday, Sept. 4 in Sussex County and Saturday, Sept. 24 in Warren County.
The event promotes local farmers by offering bicycle tours from farm to farm for tastings. In 2015 over 1,100 cyclists participated.
The Sussex County event on Sept. 4 starts and ends at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.
Gene Ventimiglia, owner of a Tour de Farm Sussex County farm stop, says that the event has been a high point of the summer season.
“We love hosting and serving the enthusiastic visitors who bike or drive to see us at our farm,” Ventimiglia said. “The 2016 Tour de Farm NJ had over 1,100 bicyclists cycling from farm to farm for tastings and farms tours. They loved it.”
Four rides are offered at Tour de Farm Sussex County:
· Weekend Warrior -15 miles
· Not-So-Extreme -35 miles
· Extreme Tour -75 miles
· 4th Tour – to be determined
Ride distances are mainly determined by which farms are participating. For more information and to register go to <URL destination="http://www.tourdefarmnj.com. ">www.tourdefarmnj.com.
</URL>Mitch Morrison, the founder and manager of the Tour de Farm, is also the co-founder and manager of the Sparta Farmers Market, where Ventimiglia and other tour hosts are vendors. The two initiatives dovetail to provide exposure for local growers and local farm fresh products for residents and visitors.
“I just became a very proud first time grandfather to Molly Sue Merrow on August 5, 2016,” Morrison said. “Molly Sue will grow up eating local, healthy food and knowing exactly where her food comes from and how it is produced.”
The Sparta Farmers Market is one of the largest farmers markets in New Jersey celebrating its 6th year with over 38 vendors and averaging 1,200 customers every market day.
“The dramatic increase in demand for local, healthy food from the Sparta Farmers Market customers has driven the success of the market,” Morrison said.
Christine Allen from Happy Baker, loves being a SFM vendor. “We have such great customers at the Sparta market,” she said. “Most of them we see on a weekly basis, even through the winter season, and have gotten to know so well.”
“The Sparta Farmers Market brings people in a community together and helps to build vibrant neighborhoods. As a corporate neighbor, Lakeland Bank understands the importance of supporting local events and organizations which enhance the quality of living for all of us,” said Ray Cordts, senior vice president for Business Development at Lakeland Bank.
Recently SFM started the Give It Fresh Today (GIFT) Program last month to provide local, healthy meals to those in need.
SFM customers purchases items from the SFM vendors and farmers and donated them to GIFT. These donated items are taken to one of the Culinary Collaborative participants including: Salt/Orchard Beer Garden, Andre’s, Upstream Grille, Krogh’s, Perona Farms and the Newton Medical Center. Culinary participants prepare single serve meals from these donations and SCARC delivers these meals to those in need at no cost — all free.
Anne Masters, a Sparta Farmers Market weekly customer, said, “Shopping at SFM allows me to know the people who produce the vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, cheese, bread and other items that I buy weekly. These are people I trust and can ask questions about my food. It is much more fun that shopping at the grocery store, but more than that it provides nutritious food for our family, good use and care of the earth and builds community. All of which is an extension of my Catholic faith. The Give It Fresh Today program is another opportunity for that, bringing people together, farmers, consumers and chefs to provide healthy food to individuals and families who cannot afford enough of this.”
“The Sparta Farmers Market has evolved into a robust business partner with local farmers and local food producers. We have become a valuable community resource hosting many of the local not-for-profits to help promote their services,” Morrison said.
Learn more about SFM here: <URL destination="http://www.spartafarmersmarket.org ">www.spartafarmersmarket.org